Issues with Royal Suites on Apex, true or no?

[canderson]

43 minutes ago, cunn9004 said:

🤣 Me and how many bellhops?  Clearly you have never seen me travel.  LOL 

Dunno!  Our last cruises out of Amsterdam (one Baltic on X and one Danube on Viking) were both 14 nt major suitcase events!  Had my wife sip coffee in the Cafe at the Movenpick while I rolled the 4 big ones in two trips, and the carry-ons went down with us to the terminal.  Heck, we opened room curtains that morning and there was Constellation right there below us.  Pretty convenient!  Movenpick prices are reasonable, transport easy if you want to see the town, and good food.  

 

Have also stayed there when visiting TomTom whose HQ is nearby as well.

[jagoffee]

4 hours ago, CalTexCruiser said:

Although RS on the Edge class is a nice suite, it could have been nicer if they would have placed a full size balcony rather than the half-size one.  Wonder if they did a customer survey and found that customers prefer a larger cabin and a smaller balcony--I would be surprised if a majority of customers said that.

 

Also would have been nice if they would not have placed that huge overhang over the RS balcony.

 

In view of all that I decided to go with an Edge Villa instead on our next cruise...a bit more expensive but I think it's nicer (at least from the online videos)...will know for sure once we've done it.

The Edge Villa is am amazing stateroom. (Two floors with two full bathrooms).    If you prefer a stateroom with zero overhang, it will be perfect.  The balcony is large, but it offers no protection from the sun.  For us it is a negative as we like the shade more than the sun.  You can get all the sun that you will ever need on the Retreat sundeck.  The existence of an overhang was  the reason we liked the deck 12, S1 Sky Suites on the Solstice Class ships.  
 

We may try an RS on our next E Class cruise.

Edited October 21, 2021 by jagoffee

[George C]

1 hour ago, cunn9004 said:

I was not a fan of the E class from the very first concept drawing.  Bigger is not better when it come to cruise ships for me, I love the intimacy of the smaller ships.  M class would always be first choice and next choice would be S class.  

 

However - I wanted that itinerary so there I will be.  I think a Celebrity suite will give us the room we need.  

 

If I'm going to splurge - I'll wait on an M class.  The villas look lovely but I managed to tear the meniscus in my knee - best not to be running the stairs although it would help with the caloric intake.  PH or Iconic are NOT in the budget on an E class.  

We booked sky suite, then submitted a few move up bids and got penthouse. 

[t18c97]

5 hours ago, CruiseNYC said:

Thank you very much for starting this thread.  I was also very curious about the location and balconies in RS on Edge and Apex.  We booked RS for a Panama Canal cruise on Edge in March 2023.  I kept going back to look at the balcony and was very unsure.  It's a celebration cruise (dh's special birthday) and, after reading all these posts and doing yet another virtual tour, decided to break the bank and do the PS. 

Thanks to all who added great info. 

We did a Panama Canal cruise on the Disney Wonder a few years ago and I would have wished for the overhang for shade, that cue on a west bound cruise on the starboard side was a killer. 

[CalTexCruiser]

49 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

The Edge Villa is am amazing stateroom. (Two floors with two full bathrooms).    If you prefer a stateroom with zero overhang, it will be perfect.  The balcony is large, but it offers no protection from the sun.  For us it is a negative as we like the shade more than the sun.  You can get all the sun that you will ever need on the Retreat sundeck.  The existence of an overhang was  the reason we liked the deck 12, S1 Sky Suites on the Solstice Class ships.  
 

We may try an RS on our next E Class cruise.

 

I actually do like some shade.  But the overhang on the RS (as well as the PS) go out so much (looks like 5 feet or so) that it does not allow a wide unobstructed view of the horizon.

 

I wonder if the Retreat Host would accommodate a request to place a lounge chair umbrella on the Edge Villa balcony, similar to what they have on the Retreat sundeck, except a little smaller.

[cunn9004]

2 hours ago, canderson said:

Dunno!  Our last cruises out of Amsterdam (one Baltic on X and one Danube on Viking) were both 14 nt major suitcase events!  Had my wife sip coffee in the Cafe at the Movenpick while I rolled the 4 big ones in two trips, and the carry-ons went down with us to the terminal.  Heck, we opened room curtains that morning and there was Constellation right there below us.  Pretty convenient!  Movenpick prices are reasonable, transport easy if you want to see the town, and good food.  

 

Have also stayed there when visiting TomTom whose HQ is nearby as well.

I read your reply to my husband, he was laughing out loud.  You've got me sold.  I'll sip coffee and dh can schlep the luggage down to drop off!  Love it!

Edited October 21, 2021 by cunn9004

[jagoffee]

3 hours ago, t18c97 said:

We did a Panama Canal cruise on the Disney Wonder a few years ago and I would have wished for the overhang for shade, that cue on a west bound cruise on the starboard side was a killer. 

Don’t do a west bound fall Transatlantic cruise in a port side cabin with full sun.

3 hours ago, CalTexCruiser said:

 

I actually do like some shade.  But the overhang on the RS (as well as the PS) go out so much (looks like 5 feet or so) that it does not allow a wide unobstructed view of the horizon.

 

I wonder if the Retreat Host would accommodate a request to place a lounge chair umbrella on the Edge Villa balcony, similar to what they have on the Retreat sundeck, except a little smaller.

The wind might be a problem, but the balcony is protected from the.wind.  I have never seen a balcony umbrella.

 

I am going to try and sneak a peek at an RS before we disembark.  

[Stu UK]

Hi, we sailed in the Royal Suite recently  and made the video tour posted above. We loved the RS. It feels more luxurious than the Edge Villa especially due to the bathroom. The choice to be made is do you want to sunbathe on a cabin balcony or not. For us it was the latter as I’m always hunting for shade. The EV has no shade. 
 

Remember lots of extra perks for the RS that are not provided in a CS - private escort onto the ship, free unlimited speciality dining, free deluxe canapés, free champagne in suite when entertaining, free laundry, dry cleaning, monogrammed pyjamas, free spa access etc. Of course it’s not free it’s the extra cost of RS over CS. 
 

A few pics attached of 12105. 

[chemmo]

In our experiences of cruising RS and PH you do not get free access to the spa. Also, your butler may provide extra free champagne but this is not standard, usually it is one bottle.
 

I would assume that free spa access was a consequence of a very empty ship?

[cunn9004]

2 hours ago, Stu UK said:

Hi, we sailed in the Royal Suite recently  and made the video tour posted above. We loved the RS. It feels more luxurious than the Edge Villa especially due to the bathroom. The choice to be made is do you want to sunbathe on a cabin balcony or not. For us it was the latter as I’m always hunting for shade. The EV has no shade. 
 

Remember lots of extra perks for the RS that are not provided in a CS - private escort onto the ship, free unlimited speciality dining, free deluxe canapés, free champagne in suite when entertaining, free laundry, dry cleaning, monogrammed pyjamas, free spa access etc. Of course it’s not free it’s the extra cost of RS over CS. 
 

A few pics attached of 12105. 

Your photos are lovely.  For us, the escort on and freebies just doesn't make me want to spend an extra $5,000.  It is a port heavy cruise (8 ports in 12  days) so this will be a busy cruise and not much time spend in the suite.  

 

I'll just ramp up the shopping in Ireland and Scotland - ladies who have been, point me in the right direction please!  Too bad my dh isn't Scottish, LOVE a man in a kilt.  😉  LOL 

 

Or on private excursions if those are allowed by then.  I remember reading on CC about an awesome Beatles tour in Liverpool.  Anyone know who offers those.  

[cangelmd]

21 hours ago, brownc424 said:

Like I said, I highly recommend this hotel. I will point out that it is not a budget option (my room with a balcony was over a thousand dollars a night), but it was spectacular. 

Yeah, I looked at that hotel, it does look amazing and the prices matched... fits with the Royal Suite. Thanks for the recommendation, though, we are trying to decide what we want to see and do and develop a location from that - what was the location of this hotel like - business oriented or tourist or more quiet or shopping?

[TeeRick]

18 hours ago, cunn9004 said:

I was not a fan of the E class from the very first concept drawing.  Bigger is not better when it come to cruise ships for me, I love the intimacy of the smaller ships.  M class would always be first choice and next choice would be S class.  

 

However - I wanted that itinerary so there I will be.  I think a Celebrity suite will give us the room we need.  

 

If I'm going to splurge - I'll wait on an M class.  The villas look lovely but I managed to tear the meniscus in my knee - best not to be running the stairs although it would help with the caloric intake.  PH or Iconic are NOT in the budget on an E class.  

We love the CS on M-Class ships!

[Lastdance]

I have shared many hints from this thread with my DH.  He doesn’t care what size cabin he has for a cruise, but I still love the huge balcony on E class for the Sunset Suites.  It has shade and sun and can accommodate two loungers and two chairs; however, these suites are corner aft, so the walk to everything is quite a long way if you want to be close to the suite amenities.  I agree that there are upsides and downsides to consider.  
 

Lots of good information on this thread for me to ponder…photos are of a Sunset Suite’s balcony…160+ sq ft.  The next photos are of the Villa balcony.

 

 

Edited October 22, 2021 by Lastdance

[morpheusofthesea]

On 10/21/2021 at 4:17 PM, jagoffee said:

On 10/21/2021 at 11:37 AM, CalTexCruiser said:

The Edge Villa is am amazing stateroom.

Were you offered a couple of complimentary bathrobes with this Edge Villa suite?

[jagoffee]

5 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Were you offered a couple of complimentary bathrobes with this Edge Villa suite?

No, we were offered and accepted Monogramed PJ’s.  I thought it was because it was the inaugural Apex season.

[edgee]

On 10/22/2021 at 4:20 AM, Stu UK said:

Hi, we sailed in the Royal Suite recently  and made the video tour posted above. We loved the RS. It feels more luxurious than the Edge Villa especially due to the bathroom. The choice to be made is do you want to sunbathe on a cabin balcony or not. For us it was the latter as I’m always hunting for shade. The EV has no shade. 
 

Remember lots of extra perks for the RS that are not provided in a CS - private escort onto the ship, free unlimited speciality dining, free deluxe canapés, free champagne in suite when entertaining, free laundry, dry cleaning, monogrammed pyjamas, free spa access etc. Of course it’s not free it’s the extra cost of RS over CS. 
 

A few pics attached of 12105.

Hello, we are considering booking 12103 next door on the Edge. According to the deck plan those Royal Suites seem to be subject to noise issues. The cabin door opens to a hallway adjacent to what appears to be the entrance to Luninae. Was there a lot of traffic outside the door in the hallway with people entering and leaving the restaurant? Also, the spa cafe appears to be above those cabins. Was there any foot traffic or rolling furniture/equipment noises from above, especially early in the morning? Thanks for any advice you or anyone else can offer.

 

[hcat]

On 10/21/2021 at 1:08 PM, TeeRick said:

If you truly want a nice balcony for your cruise and it makes a difference to you, then just avoid E-Class ships entirely.  Even for suites.  Unless you can afford the E Villa, PH or Iconic suites.

Sunset Balconies are excellent on EDGE.  Grab one whenever you can,

Stateroom are larger than IVs, huge balc with unfettered aft views.

Quiet locations..just a long walk to elevators.

Access to the 4 mdrs..all excellent!

( there are some nice suites back there as well)

[Gordoncruickshank]

One the only Edge cruise we have done we opted for a corner S1 which has a huge balcony. We would stay there again.

[Treasure Hunter]

I also love the Hotel de l’Europe. It was built by Heineken to house personal family and friends. It is an event in itself and has a great location. The concierge is amazing , securing tickets to a coveted Van Gogh exhibit.

[Treasure Hunter]

We are in an RS on the Edge in March ( Caribbean). I can’t sit directly in the sun so an overhang is welcome , especially since I hear the retreat has very little shade. If the take out the table and chairs, can they squeeze in one lounger?

[wineoclock]

We are booked in CS on Apex & considering move up bid to RS even not available. However the balcony size is putting me off. Have only stayed in PH before so have been thoroughly spoilt. Can no longer justify the huge cost. EV out of the question due to mobility issues but we do like the extra perks. If it was a bigger balcony I wouldn’t hesitate…..

 

I also can’t believe that Celebrity have reduced balcony sizes & I’m not sure retreat deck will make up for it. Sailing for itinerary this time rather than ship. 

[George C]

47 minutes ago, wineoclock said:

We are booked in CS on Apex & considering move up bid to RS even not available. However the balcony size is putting me off. Have only stayed in PH before so have been thoroughly spoilt. Can no longer justify the huge cost. EV out of the question due to mobility issues but we do like the extra perks. If it was a bigger balcony I wouldn’t hesitate…..

 

I also can’t believe that Celebrity have reduced balcony sizes & I’m not sure retreat deck will make up for it. Sailing for itinerary this time rather than ship. 

Agree strange that balconies are definitely smaller on edge class , that was my only disappointment with edge penthouse was completely covered balcony, we now have aft corner sky suite on beyond for November looks like a huge balcony, but long walk to Luminae and retreat.

[Stu UK]

On 8/21/2022 at 2:35 PM, edgee said:

Hello, we are considering booking 12103 next door on the Edge. According to the deck plan those Royal Suites seem to be subject to noise issues. The cabin door opens to a hallway adjacent to what appears to be the entrance to Luninae. Was there a lot of traffic outside the door in the hallway with people entering and leaving the restaurant? Also, the spa cafe appears to be above those cabins. Was there any foot traffic or rolling furniture/equipment noises from above, especially early in the morning? Thanks for any advice you or anyone else can offer.

 

Never heard any noise in the suite from anywhere. The entrance to Luminea is not via the corridor in front of the suite. 

Edited August 27, 2022 by Stu UK

[bjt3]

Last October, my wife and I stayed in a royal suite on the Apex while cruising Greece. We loved the suite and would book it again in a heart beat. Being so close to Luminae was super convenient. We were in the suite right next to the restaurant(12103) and used the door that connected to the restaurant entrance at the end of the hall. We were also close to the retreat lounge and sundeck. The suite location was super quiet with no cross traffic in the hallway nor from the restaurant. We liked the split balcony concept where we could sit inside in AC in the afternoons and watch the waves roll buy or sit on the balcony in the mornings with a cup of coffee. Overhang did not bother us as it shaded our room from direct sun exposure in the heat of the day.

[wineoclock]

On 8/22/2022 at 5:56 PM, George C said:

Agree strange that balconies are definitely smaller on edge class , that was my only disappointment with edge penthouse was completely covered balcony, we now have aft corner sky suite on beyond for November looks like a huge balcony, but long walk to Luminae and retreat.

And there really shouldn’t be any disappointment with a PH. I like a proper balcony - probably stems from my days of living in a flat with a Juliet balcony. It was nice but just not good enough.